Kmart worker attacked: Moment employee was struck in the face by a young mum, forcing a law change to protect retail workers

The shocking moment a brutal young mum punched an elderly shop assistant in the face and sent her flying has sparked a law change to protect store workers.

Christine Smith, 69, was checking receipts at the Campbelltown Kmart in Sydney’s southwest when she approached a customer with a trolley overflowing with goods as she left the store.

But when she placed her hand on the customer’s trolley, the woman, then aged 26, lashed out without warning and punched Ms Smith in the face before fleeing the store.

Ms Smith was sent spinning by the blow which left her bloodied and bruised with two black eyes, writhing in agony on the floor.

She required four months of intensive physiotherapy and psychological therapy to recover before she could work again.

“It was like boxing – she went all out,” Ms Smith said afterwards.

The NSW government has now introduced tougher new laws to protect store staff, amid warnings of more similar incidents in the run-up to Christmas.

Christine Smith, 69, was sent spinning by the blow which left her bloodied and bruised with two black eyes, writhing in agony on the ground.

There is now a specific offense of violence against retail workers, with the maximum prison sentence for assault without actual bodily harm being doubled to four years.

Anyone found guilty of wounding or causing grievous bodily harm now faces up to 11 years in prison, up from 10.

The savage attacker was eventually found by police in 2019 and convicted, but his nine-month suspended sentence was later reduced on appeal.

Ms Smith – who still works at the same Kmart store after 30 years there – says the light sentence given to her attacker was the hardest blow.

“That was the most heartbreaking part,” she told the Today’s telegraph. “I’m a tough old bird. But if this happened to a 15-year-old, it could harm them for life.

Authorities have warned of an increased risk of attacks on store workers over Christmas, as stores face staff shortages and stressed customers grapple with the pressure of the cost of living.

Workplace Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis told NSW Parliament the new laws were aimed at “protecting workers like Christine”.

The savage attacker, then aged 26, was eventually found by police in 2019 and convicted, but his nine-month suspended sentence was later reduced on appeal.

Following new laws passed in June, the Association of Store, Distribution and Allied Employees joined retailers and shopping centers to launch an advertising campaign to raise awareness and eradicate attacks on store staff.

SDA NSW Secretary Bernie Smith added: “It’s really important that stories like Christine’s are told.

“We would be the happiest people in the world if no one was charged under the new laws because their behavior changed.”